Here’s why.
Long ago, two fox families arranged for
their children to be married when they grew up.
But the families lived far apart, and the daugh-
ter and son never even saw each other—only
the four parents had actually met.
The fox-son’s parents were noble but poor
and wanted to be paid a big dowry. The bride’s
parents wanted their daughter to marry into a
noble family so other foxes would look up to
them. So the parents lied to each other. The
son’s parents said he was handsome beyond
words. The daughter’s parents described her as
breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, the boy-fox
and the girl-fox were both plain-looking.
“But on the wedding day they’ll all
see how plain I am!” both the young foxes
objected. Their parents, however, said they
should just use fox-magic to make themselves
seem perfect. And the young foxes had to obey.
Finally the wedding day came, and then the newlyweds went off to
their own house.
The parents were satisfied; they’d gotten what they wanted. But life
was hard for the new couple. Fox-magic takes a lot of concentration. The
young husband feared his wife might discover the truth about him, and
she was afraid he might learn her secret. Each had to concentrate to keep
ooking right—even in their sleep!
At first they used the magic because their parents had ordered them
ut as time passed, they slowly grew to love each other. The fox-wife
ed her husband’s gentleness, his hard work, and his sense of humor.
And he began to love her for her kindness, her intelligence, and her greatHE SKY, OF course, clouds over when
t rains. But every once in a while, the sun
hines even as rain is falling. When Japanese
eople see a sun shower, they say, “Look—the
ox bride is going to her husband’s house!”ttt
B t t a p n tss
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fofofoIllustrated by Seo Kim
text © 2019 by Tim J. Myers, art © 2019 by Seo KimFox
Wedding
by Tim J yers
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Tim J. MyTim J. My
TRADITIONALLY, A DOWRY IS THE
MONEY AND PROPERTY A BRIDE
18 BRINGS TO HER MARRIAGE.